.357 Magnum, 9mm +P+, .40 S&W, or .45 ACP?

[klkak]

Ok, I'll get with the program and choose one.........thinking.......hmmm........ok got it.

I'll choose the .357/.38 in a Marlin model 94 trapper carbine.

[Ole WV Coot]

I already picked my 45, but with all the mentioning of the 44 mag I gotta say the one I have is a SS Ruger Redhawk with a barrel about as long as my leg. If you are gonna carry something that heavy in a shoulder or chest rig better get in shape. Too much weight all around. Might as well carry a long gun, and forget a belt holster unless you want to tilt to the carry side. I do agree that a 357 is good for mixing ammo as with my Ruger Blackhawk, but can't justify the weight if I carry.

[chiangmaimav]

I used to own a ruger .44 magnum rifle which was great but I don't think they make them anymore.

[crashdive123]

Don't know if it's the one you owned, but Ruger makes the 96/44M. http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAFami...tion&famlst=37

[A190]

Give me a 158 grain jacketed hollow point in silvertip. I will be happy.

you failed to mention the .38 super.............also excellent round and great man stopping power,,,,,,,,,,,,carried that one for years.

But that wasn't the question. The revolver is a very forgiving weapon and will hit with good accuracy with any round you throw out of it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I just really like the silvertip, and after that the black talon................and after that all the rest.......

[chiangmaimav]

Yes it was a ruger 96/44m. Also owned a Ruger .22 and SP-101, all excellent guns.

[FredKenpo]

Well, this discussion put my mind at ease. I have a .50, a .44 magnum, a .45 (which tends to be my carry gun), but just bought a S&W 340 .357 magnum because it fits in my pocket. Wondered though how the bear that lumbers through where I live in summer might react to it. Sounds like .45 vs. .357 is almost six of one, half a dozen of the other. I do favor big bullets, as you might have guessed.

[crashdive123]

Hey FredKenpo - how about shooting on over to the Introduction section and tell us a bit about yourself. Thanks.

[REAPER]

if you have the right handgun..you wont have a false sense of security. The S & W 500 mag will drop any living thing on this planet and prob a few others. It can be used in many situations due to the differant loads. 275 gn up to the big T REX Thumper , 700gn
and let me tell ya, that T REX thumper is properly named, its more powerful than most rifels, this round has 3660 ft/lbs muzzel energy, 72lbs recoil, 1350 fps,hard cast lead and shoots like butter through 1/4 in metal plate frm 50 yrds

[SARKY]

I prefer the .460 S&W to the .500. shoots flatter so I can reach out and touch something.

[Rick]

I dunno. Where I live the only thing big and bad you have to worry about is standing in the mirror. No bears, no moose. Just wabbits and squirrels. I guess if you limit me to those calibers then I have to go with the .357 for all the reasons the pastor mentioned. I like my .45 and I like my 9mm but it's just really hard to cook up a squirrel that's been hit with a .45. I've learned to just shoot near them and let the sonic boom get 'em.

[Fletcher]

357/38 hands down because you will have two choice's or chances
to replenish ammo. Plus a revolver is more reliable.

[sobeit]

For the woods a 357/38 would be the better. If I went with the 45 I would go with a Ruger in 45 Long Colt

[Tactical Tom]

It wasn't on the list but .22LR is my favorite just because with proper shot placement you could take down game up to deer size * ONLY IF IT WAS LIFE OR DEATH * & you can pack alot of ammo & ammo is cheap! But I also like a 9mm pretty much for the same reason.

[wildography]

I would prefer the .38/.357 for many of the reasons listed by others... but wanted to add my "two cents".

For a "short-term" survival situation, any of the listed choices would work well. However, for SHTF and TEOTWAWKI survival situations... reliability and functionality are paramount. There are "wheel-guns" from the 1800s that still perform well.

Ideally, I would prefer to have a .38/.357 revolver (with a variety of different loads - most of which have been listed) and a .22 revolver (with at least 500 rounds - or, if weight/storage/etc is not an issue... as much as I can get).

[sgtdraino]

Bump!

I really wish now that I had included .44 Magnum in this poll. Maybe next time!

[lucznik]

I'll throw in my vote for the .357/.38 as best both from the list as well as the best centerfire handgun choice overall because:

• There's nothing in North America that can't be stopped by the .357
• It's a lot easier to shoot than any caliber starting with a 4 (or larger)
• It has versatility written all over it - you can load it with all kinds of different styles, weights, etc. ammo - all at the same time.
• It reliably shoots ANY .38 Spcl or .357 Mag ammo, regardless of power level (which can be a problem with automatics)
• Ammo is easy and (relatively) cheap to acquire
• Generally speaking, high quality, stock revolvers will out shoot similarly high quality, stock pistols.

I would choose to supplement it with a .22LR - also a revolver.

[Ken]

There's nothing in North America that can't be stopped by the .357

You think so, huh?

[SARKY]

Even with buffalo bore solids, I wouldn't want to stake my life on stopping a griz or polar bear. Even something like a bison might be a bit much for the .357

[lucznik]

You think so, huh?

Yes, I do. I've killed many an animal with the .357. I know others who have done the same. Other calibers (44 Mag, 454 Casull, 460 S&W, 500 S&W) may be technically (and debatably) more efficient at the killing, but they do so at the expense of much greater recoil which inhibits good shooting. The fact that they are "better" in respect to power also does not diminish any other caliber's ability to accomplish the same task.

It's like saying a .300 Magnum is "better" than a 7-08 Rem as a moose/bear/elk dispatcher. With correct shot placement the .300 might put the animal down more quickly, but that doesn't alter the fact that many a moose/bear/elk have been quickly and humanely taken with the 7mm. (I've personally killed three elk in the last two years with the 7-08.) And the 7mm is easier to shoot accurately because it doesn't inflict nearly the same flinch-inducing recoil as the .300.

If you can't kill it with a .357, then you simply aren't a very good marksman.